A VIETNAM veteran whose phony war stories featured on the Australian Government’s official online war history has been stripped from the ranks of Victoria’s Justice of the Peace.

Robert William Richardson of Greensborough has also resigned as the state secretary of the Royal Australian Regiment Association and a member of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs steering committee for the popular Anzac Day story writing and art competition.

His right to payments and entitlements estimated to be worth more than $1 million today as a full gold card veterans pensioner for up to 30 years remain under review, along with his status as an Order of Australia Medal awardee.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs said three video interviews of Mr Richardson’s war stories that were temporarily removed from its war commemoration website, Australia and the Vietnam War, after being contacted by the Herald Sun last month had also now been deleted permanently.

Mr Richardson’s name no longer appears on an online list of Victorian JPs, although it is unclear whether he resigned or was deregistered.

According to a memo from RAR Association state president Doug Bishop, Mr Richardson resigned as state secretary “for fear that the ongoing ‘sound and fury’ may have a tendency to bring the RAR Victorian Branch into disrepute”.

“As you know, an investigation into certain allegations against Robert Richardson, on behalf of the 1 RAR Association, is underway and I understand is nearing completion,” Mr Bishop wrote.

“Bob has apologised unreservedly to anyone who has been offended by his actions. His resignation is not to be interpreted in any way as an admission of guilt, and he like the rest of us await the outcome of the independent investigation into these matters.”

Mr Richardson admitted to the Herald Sun last month that his recollections of storming Viet Cong tunnels as part of Operation Crimp were faulty and that he took no part in the battle. He stated that at the time he was interviewed, he was a rather “mentally disturbed cookie” and that this could explain his vague recollections.

He also conceded his claims in 1980 that he and his fellow veterans were left non-operational for several days after being mistakenly sprayed by an American C130 plane during Operation Crimp were wrong.

Richardson, who says he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, early dementia and long-term memory loss, was among the first Australian soldiers to see service in Vietnam, where he served as a lance corporal clerk in the 1st battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Mr Richardson has been on a full TPI pension since being assessed as being totally and permanently incapacitated due to his combat service.

In addition to fortnightly tax-free payments of $1293.20, Mr Richardson is also able to access free health and dental care, free public transport, concessions on power and gas and water, half- price car registration, cheap taxis, GST and stamp duty-free car purchases and a carer’s payment for his wife.

War records show Mr Richardson was drummed out of the army in 1969 after being fined costs in a criminal court for “obtaining goods under false pretence”.

He was awarded an OAM “for service to the welfare of veterans and their families, and to the community” in 2002.

Acknowledging his faulty war claims, Mr Richardson told the Herald Sun: “If my recollections were incorrect — I apologise unequivocally and without reservation to anyone who may have been offended by my statements as that would never have been my intention, as I have always held my comrades ... in the highest regard.”